Wire-fastener



No. 6ll,|05. Patented Sept. 20, I898; E. L. COWGILL.

WIRE FASTENEB.

(Application filed May 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT nron.

ELISHA L. OOWGILL, OF FILLMORE, INDIANA.

WlRE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,105, dated September 20, 1898.

Application filed May 21, 1898.

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ELISHA L. COWGILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fillmore, in the county of Putnam and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Fence Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fasteners for securing the horizontal strands of wire fences to fence-posts; and its object is to provide an improved device for such purpose, which shall be simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and which can be readily applied to a fence-post and the wire securely held in place.

The invention consists, essentially, in a fastener comprising a single piece of metal formed with an open central loop or coil and two oppositely-inclined arms having eyes at the ends for the passage of nails for securing it to a fence-post, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fence-post, showing three fasteners secured thereto. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are enlarged detail views of the fastener.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the fastener, consisting of a single piece of stiff or stout wire formed at the center with an open inclined loop or coil 2 and the ends inclined inwardly in opposite directions, forming arms 3, the extremities of which are bent into eyes 4 for the passage of nails 5, by which it is secured to the fencepost.

The numeral 6 designates the fence-post, and 7 the horizontal strands or wires.

In practice one end of the fastener is secured to the fence-post by driving a nail Serial No. 681,310. (No model.)

loosely through one of the eyes of the same say the lower one, for instance. The fencestrand is then engaged between the upper and lower arms 3, as seen at the upper part of Fig. 1. The upper arm is then passed behind the fence-wire and then brought downward, the fastener turning on its pivoted lower end, carrying with it the fence-strand, the fastener now occupying the position shown in the middle portion of Fig. 1. What was formerly the lower arm is now the upper .one, the fastener being reversed, and the nail securing it to the post is driven tightly in and a nail also driven tightly through the other eye. Said loop is now engaged by a claw-hammer and bent over to the right, closing the same, as seen in Fig. 3.

By this constructionthe coil or loop will securely support the fence-wire, yet allow it to slip through when being tightened.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improved article, a fastener for the horizontal strands of wire fences, consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form a central inclined open coil or loop, the oppositely-inclined arms, and the eyes at the ends thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a wire fence, the combination with the post and the horizontal wires or strands, of the fastener consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form a central open loop, the oppositely-inclined arms, the ends of which are bent into eyes and the nails passing therethrough, and the loop then closed by bending or twisting the same, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISHA L. oowcILL.

Witnesses:

JAMES NIcHoLs, WILLIS D. WRIGHT. 

